The author opens with a dedication to Abba George, urging that faith precede and ground the narrative of the renowned Euthymius. He explains his labor of gathering memories and testimonies from desert fathers, motivated by duty and hope of divine reward despite his own humility and inexperience. The Life begins with a concise Christology: the Word, consubstantial with the Father, became incarnate without confusion or change of natures, uniting divine and human in one person. Because of this condescension Christ, though impassible and immortal, suffered and died to save humanity and sent the apostles to baptize and teach. Their missionary witness-enduring persecution, poverty, and ascetic struggle-gave rise to martyrs and monastics who emulate apostolic virtue and holiness.
